Recently, McLaren Automotive revived the legendary ‘Longtail’ name with the launch of the 675LT Coupé, minimising weight and optimising aerodynamics in parallel with increasing power, track focussed dynamics and driver engagement.

True to the spirit of its ‘Longtail’ predecessor and the traits inherent to a car wearing the LT badge, the 675LT Coupé earlier was acknowledged as the purest, most involving series-production McLaren supercar at launch.

Now as only the fourth ‘Longtail’ McLaren in more than two decades, the McLaren 600LT marks the beginning of the next chapter in the McLaren ‘Longtail’ (LT) story and at the same time sets a new sportscar benchmark as the fastest, most powerful and most track-focused, yet road legal Sports Series McLaren has created.

The McLaren 600LT is built to excel on roads and race circuits alike with an extended front splitter, lengthened rear diffuser and fixed rear wing. Built using the lightweight carbon fibre monocoque chassis for which McLaren is renowned, the 600LT further benefits from new carbon fibre bodywork that lowers vehicle weight as well as optimising aerodynamic performance.

Unique top-exit exhausts ensure that the new LT model has a distinct aesthetic appearance that identifies it as something particularly special, as well as delivering a substantial weight saving and anincredible aural experience.

To deliver the extreme performance appropriate for an LT, the McLaren 600LT is powered by a twin-turbocharged, 3.8-litre V8 engine that benefits from an uprated cooling system and reduced back pressure in an exhaust system that is even shorter and more extreme than that of the McLaren Senna. Peak power is 600PS (592bhp), with maximum torque of 620Nm (457lb ft) and thepower-to-weight ratio of the McLaren 600LT at lightest dry weight is an astonishing 481PS/tonne.

The new model features the forged aluminium double-wishbone suspension and lightweight braking system from the second-generation McLaren Super Series; bespoke, track-focused Pirelli Trofeo R tyres; quicker steering; sharpened responses from the throttle and brake pedals; significantly firmer engine mounts and exhausts that are mounted virtually behind the driver’s shoulder to bring the incredible sound of the powertrain into the cabin.

The driver is encouraged by the deep-rooted and incredibly pure connection with the car to fully exploit the optimised aerodynamics, reduced weight, increased power and track-focused dynamics. This higher level of excellence and engagement is the ethos at the heart of the McLaren 600LT, just as it was with the McLaren 675LT models and the McLaren F1 GTR ‘Longtail’ before them.

Volume of the new McLaren LT will also be strictly limited. Production of the 600LT Coupé will begin in October 2018 and last for around 12 months, with build slots scheduled around existing Sports and Super Series models, as well as the sell-out Senna, Senna GTR and BP23. The specialist carbon fibre body panels of the 600LT will also ensure that it is significantly rarer than its Sports Series brethren.

Like its 675LT predecessors, each 600LT will be hand-assembled at the McLaren Production Centre in Woking, Surrey. Available to order now from McLaren retailers, the McLaren 600LT Coupé is subject to availability.

After travelling to different parts of the world (Africa, Europe, Middle East and the Americas) the last few years to look at classic and historical cars, the highlight of my journey has to be my recent visit to the Museo Storico Alfa Romeo which is the dedicated Alfa Romeo’s official museum, located in Arese displaying a permanent collection of Alfa Romeo cars and engines.

More than just a museum, the eclectic building has a bookshop, a store, a café, events centre and is an immersive experience centre designed to impress visitors after going through a major restoration and opening again in 2015. Located a few kilometers away from Milan, the museum is the perfect link between past, present and future in a modern and an elegant venue.

The museum journey highlights the Gran Turismo in the past, the present and the future showcasing projects that came into being, images of the team who led the company, who designed the cars and created history with their inventions.

The Alfa Romeo DNA is evident throughout Alfa Romeo’s historic collection of memorabilia and models. From the very first A.L.F.A. car, the 24 HP, to the legendary Mille Miglia winners such as the 6C 1750 Gran Sport driven by Tazio Nuvolari.

Each of the three floors represented the essence of the brand condensed into three principles: Timeline, which represents industrial continuity of the brand, Bellezza(beauty), which combines style with design and Velocità (speed) which sums up technology and light weight.

The Timeline section features a selection of 19 cars representing the evolvement of the brand, complete with a multimedia information panel and a smart-tech station where visitors can access an interactive system for more details about the history of each model.

For instance, the “Quelli dell’Alfa Romeo” installation recounts how a legend was formed in over 100 years thanks to the work of thousands of people who contributing to the company’s growth: from the workers to the mechanics, testers and designers, engineers and white collar workers.

The ground floor section layout called Bellezza features several themed areas and is designed with dynamic and smooth lines that recall the style of the major Italian coachbuilders. It reveals 9 major design examples from each era, displaying cars built by the Touring bodyshop under the Superleggera brand in the 1930s and 40s.

This floor has the Alfa Romeo nel cinema” (Alfa Romeo in the movies). This is followed by “Il Fenomeno Giulietta” (The Giulietta Phenomenon) and “Giulia: disegnata dal vento” (Giulia: designed by the wind), with models that accompany the growth of the economy and of Italian taste in the 1950s and 60s.

Another section dedicated to Speed features the stars of Alfa Romeo’s major victories in a spectacular multi-media space which groups together the stars of the epic competitions, highlights racing in Alfa Romeo’s DNA and a dedicated space with pictures, sounds and film footage of the 10 biggest triumphs in the history of Alfa Romeo.

Visitors can experience the Alfa Romeo world with 360° virtual reality film footage, enjoy a full-immersion room sitting in interactive armchairs and watching 4D films dedicated to the legendary successes of Alfa Romeo.

We ended our journey with some retail therapy at the museum’s store that is well stocked with Alfa Romeo memorabilia and left the building feeling inspired and in awe of the brands history and success in the past and the forward thinking mentality to take the brand into an equally impressive future.

Recently, McLaren Automotive revived the legendary ‘Longtail’ name with the launch of the 675LT Coupé, minimising weight and optimising aerodynamics in parallel with increasing power, track focussed dynamics and driver engagement.

True to the spirit of its ‘Longtail’ predecessor and the traits inherent to a car wearing the LT badge, the 675LT Coupé earlier was acknowledged as the purest, most involving series-production McLaren supercar at launch.

Now as only the fourth ‘Longtail’ McLaren in more than two decades, the McLaren 600LT marks the beginning of the next chapter in the McLaren ‘Longtail’ (LT) story and at the same time sets a new sportscar benchmark as the fastest, most powerful and most track-focused, yet road legal Sports Series McLaren has created.

The McLaren 600LT is built to excel on roads and race circuits alike with an extended front splitter, lengthened rear diffuser and fixed rear wing. Built using the lightweight carbon fibre monocoque chassis for which McLaren is renowned, the 600LT further benefits from new carbon fibre bodywork that lowers vehicle weight as well as optimising aerodynamic performance.

Unique top-exit exhausts ensure that the new LT model has a distinct aesthetic appearance that identifies it as something particularly special, as well as delivering a substantial weight saving and anincredible aural experience.

To deliver the extreme performance appropriate for an LT, the McLaren 600LT is powered by a twin-turbocharged, 3.8-litre V8 engine that benefits from an uprated cooling system and reduced back pressure in an exhaust system that is even shorter and more extreme than that of the McLaren Senna. Peak power is 600PS (592bhp), with maximum torque of 620Nm (457lb ft) and thepower-to-weight ratio of the McLaren 600LT at lightest dry weight is an astonishing 481PS/tonne.

The new model features the forged aluminium double-wishbone suspension and lightweight braking system from the second-generation McLaren Super Series; bespoke, track-focused Pirelli Trofeo R tyres; quicker steering; sharpened responses from the throttle and brake pedals; significantly firmer engine mounts and exhausts that are mounted virtually behind the driver’s shoulder to bring the incredible sound of the powertrain into the cabin.

The driver is encouraged by the deep-rooted and incredibly pure connection with the car to fully exploit the optimised aerodynamics, reduced weight, increased power and track-focused dynamics. This higher level of excellence and engagement is the ethos at the heart of the McLaren 600LT, just as it was with the McLaren 675LT models and the McLaren F1 GTR ‘Longtail’ before them.

Volume of the new McLaren LT will also be strictly limited. Production of the 600LT Coupé will begin in October 2018 and last for around 12 months, with build slots scheduled around existing Sports and Super Series models, as well as the sell-out Senna, Senna GTR and BP23. The specialist carbon fibre body panels of the 600LT will also ensure that it is significantly rarer than its Sports Series brethren.

Like its 675LT predecessors, each 600LT will be hand-assembled at the McLaren Production Centre in Woking, Surrey. Available to order now from McLaren retailers, the McLaren 600LT Coupé is subject to availability.

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio has claimed the title of world’s fastest production SUV, setting a new benchmark lap time at Germany’s legendary Nürburgring – this is the latest achievement in the racing tradition of the Quadrifoglio in over a century of Alfa Romeo history.

A Stelvio Quadrifoglio lapped the 12.9-mile Nordschleife (North Loop) in a record 7 minutes 51.7 seconds. This new benchmark time is a full eight seconds faster than the previous production SUV record.

The Stelvio Quadrifoglio record was setby Fabio Francia – the same driver who also set the track record for the fastest four-door sedan in the world on the Nürburgring with the Giulia Quadrifoglio in a time of just 7 minutes and 32 seconds.

The first SUV in the more than a century-long history of the brand, Stelvio embodies the true authentic Alfa Romeo spirit – distinctive Italian style, state-of-the-art and innovative engines, perfect weight distribution, unique technical solutions and excellent weight-to-power ratio.

Infused with Italian passion, craftsmanship and innovation, the all-new Alfa Romeo Stelvio is designed to conquer the winding road after which it is named.

The heart and soul of this ultra-high performance SUV is an all-aluminium, direct-injection 2.9-litre 24-valve Twin-Turbo intercooled V6 engine, delivering 510 hp and 443 lb.-ft. of torque, which is paired with the standard Q4 all-wheel-drive system for the first time. The engine is also paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission with specific settings for shifting in just 150 milliseconds when in Race mode.

The Stelvio Quadrifoglio achieves the most horsepower per litre in its class.

Designed to enhance the all-new lightweight Alfa Romeo architecture, the all-aluminium 2.9-litre V6 Twin-Turbo engine features a compact 90-degree layout and was holistically designed for a low centre of gravity within the chassis.

Ultra-lightweight carbon fibre shell Sparco racing seats, providing maximum lateral support during extreme cornering thanks to more aggressive bolstering, and designed to be the lightest in the segment, while providing comfort for long road trips

Where other SUVs stop at utility, with the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio, Alfa Romeo took on the challenge to create the perfect mix of high performance, authentically sporty driving dynamics, Italian style and engineering technology with the comfort and roominess features which are typical of this segment.

The Lamborghini Urus Super SUV will make its public UK dynamic debut at the 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed. Displayed at the Lamborghini village alongside the new Lamborghini Performante Spyder – the convertible version of the record-breaking coupé – the Urus will also run ‘up the hill’.

Lamborghini super sports cars making the hill climb include the Centenario Roadster: one of a limited edition of 20 produced together with 20 coupés. With a start price of two million euros, the Centenario was created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Ferruccio Lamborghini’s birthday, and all sold prior to launch.

The Centenario is joined in the supercar paddock by the Huracán Performante and Spyder, as well as the Aventador S Coupé and Roadster. “Goodwood Festival of Speed marks the arrival of the Lamborghini Urus Super SUV in the UK, with the first cars about to be delivered to customers,” said Andrea Baldi, CEO Lamborghini EMEA. “The line-up of the Urus Super SUV as well as our V12 and V10 super sports cars means that fans of Lamborghini are promised a resounding display of iconic design and performance as each car runs up the Goodwood hill.”

Automobili Lamborghini announced record worldwide deliveries to customers last year of 3,815 cars across its Aventador and Huracán ranges. More than 350 cars were delivered in the UK during 2017, which was the third largest market for Lamborghini.

The Urus, first unveiled in December 2017 and officially launched earlier this year, features a 4.0 litre V8 twin-turbo engine delivering 650 hp. The Urus accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 3.6 seconds and, with a top speed of 190 mph, is the fastest SUV available. Lamborghini’s third model line, it will more than double sales worldwide as well as in the UK. The Lamborghini Urus retails in the UK from £165,000 on the road.

Bentley Motors, founded 10th July 1919, is entering its 100th year of creating the world’s most iconic Grand Tourers, and the British luxury brand is honouring decades of innovation, achievement and craftsmanship by releasing a short film ‘An Extraordinary Grand Tour: The Story of Bentley’.

From W.O. Bentley himself, right up to the new Continental GT, the film touches upon the extraordinary characters, sporting achievements and successful models through the decades.

It begins with W.O. Bentley touching an aluminium paperweight (the inspiration for his revolutionary aluminium piston design) to a wall which then comes to life, taking the viewer on an engaging journey across Bentley’s near-century of innovation and success.

The legendary Bentley Boys and Girls star, as do the Le Mans-winning ‘Blower’ and Speed 8, alongside Woolf Barnato during his famous race against the ‘Blue Train’. The film is also inspired by the shapes, surfaces and luxurious materials that have made Bentley the enduring automotive brand it is today.

Shot using 4k ALEXA Mini camera technology and bespoke rigs, the film was produced by Oscar-winning visual effects company, The Mill.

In 1919 Walter Owen (W.O.) Bentley created a company with a simple objective: to build “a fast car, a good car, the best in its class”. This guiding principle has driven Bentley ever since, pushing the brand forward and making it the leader in automotive luxury around the world.

The 10th of July 2018 marks the start of Bentley’s 100th year and the countdown to the brand’s centenary in 2019. This extraordinary milestone – reached by only a special few companies – will be a cause for celebration of the company’s history and its global success today.

Twenty-six years from its last Grand Prix, the Minardi M191B chassis #003, equipped with a Lamborghini LE3512 V12 engine and one of the protagonists of Formula One in 1992, is back on the track.

The exciting shakedown organized by Lamborghini Squadra Corse is the result of a meticulous restoration carried out by Lamborghini Polo Storico with the support of former Lamborghini engineering personnel who were active on the Lamborghini F1 project in the early ’90s.

The Minardi M191B #003 is the first single-seater to be restored by Polo Storico. After being on display at the Lamborghini Museum in Sant’Agata Bolognese, the car underwent seven months of work to return to its original efficiency, with most of the original components maintained.

The tires, fuel tank, engine control unit, seat belts, and fire extinguishing system were replaced, while the other components were carefully restored, starting from the engine designed by Mauro Forghieri. The 12-cylinder LE3512 is still able to deliver the original almost 700 HP, enabling enthusiasts to relive the emotions of the golden years of Formula One.

The guests of honor on the occasion of its grand return are Mirko Bortolotti, Lamborghini factory driver, and Giancarlo Minardi. The founder of the Faenza-based team recalled the fruitful collaboration with Lamborghini that lasted for the entire 1992 season: “Seeing the models of 25 or 30 years ago is still exciting. They are the last cars before the beginning of telemetry and automatic transmissions. Apart from the growling noise, which still today brings back those wonderful times, it was a very flexible engine with enormous power starting from the low rpms.”

Entrusted to drivers Gianni Morbidelli and Christian Fittipaldi, the Minardi M191B #003 competed in the first Grand Prix races of 1992 before being replaced by the M192, also equipped with a Lamborghini engine. The best result achieved by the single-seater restored by Polo Storico was 11th place with Christian Fittipaldi at the wheel at the Spanish GP, and it is now ready to return to racing and competing in the championships dedicated to historic F1 races. The testing outcome was very positive: the car ran more than 20 laps without any problem and the Lamborghini engine perfectly maintained all the features that so impressed Ayrton Senna during the tests at Estoril in 1993.

Volvo Cars, the premium carmaker, today launches M, a new brand that will expand the company’s global mobility operations by providing dependable, on-demand access to cars and services through an intuitive app.

Moreover, M will learn about its user’s needs, preferences and habits, personalising the customer relationship. It will debut in Sweden and the US in the spring of 2019.

“Volvo Cars is becoming more than just a car company. We recognise that urban consumers are rethinking traditional car ownership. M is part of our answer. We are evolving to become a direct-to-consumer services provider under our new mission ‘Freedom to Move’,” said Håkan Samuelsson, Volvo Cars president and chief executive.

M is developing proprietary learning technology that asks users about their specific needs instead of merely informing them where they can pick up a car.

“The services currently available mainly offer alternatives to a taxi or public transit,” said Bodil Eriksson, CEO of Volvo Car Mobility. “We’re focused on the way people use the cars they own, which sets us apart. We aim to provide a real alternative to that experience. It should enable us to live life on our terms, getting things done and maximising precious time. We see the opportunity to offer a premium experience.’”

In addition to a team of experienced and sought-after digital software engineers and leading talent, M draws on 20 years of learnings and data from Sunfleet, Volvo Car Group’s car-sharing pioneer. Sunfleet is the leading car sharing company in Sweden with 500,000 annual transactions and a fleet of 1,700 cars. It will be fully integrated into M in 2019, making the service available to all existing Sunfleet members.

“Mobility is undergoing a fundamental transformation and Volvo Cars is leading that change. The launch of M creates new sources of revenue for Volvo Cars and will be integral to the company’s ambition to build more than 5 million direct consumer relationships by the middle of the next decade,” said Mr Samuelsson.

“Stockholm, Sweden, will serve as M’s base of development and where we already conduct extensive testing. A broader Beta test will take place this autumn,” said Ms Eriksson.

Further information about the M service will be released later this year.